A New Year

Behold! a new white world!             The falling snow      Has cloaked the last old year             And bid him go.      To-morrow! cries the oak-tree             To his heart,      My seald buds shall fling             Their leaves apart.      To-morrow! pipes the robin,             And again      How sweet the nest that long             Was full of rain.      To-morrow! bleats the sheep,             And one by one      My little lambs shall frolic             Neath the sun.      For us, too, let some fair             To-morrow be,      O Thou who weavest threads             Of Destiny!      Thou wast a babe on that             Far Christmas Day,      Let us as children follow             In Thy way.      So that our hearts grown cold             Neath time and pain,      With young sweet faith may blossom             Green again.      That empty promises             Of passing years      Spring into life, and not             Repenting tears.      So that our deeds upon             The earth may go,      As innocent as lambs,             And pure as snow.